#2 Sweet Hours
Eddie reaches across and takes the phone off the top of the desk which stands in the corner of the dining room. He keys in Rachel's number and holds the phone to his ear; concerned that he has not heard from her since she had left school to visit Grantley that afternoon.
Rachel can hear her phone ringing as she stands facing her mirror; drying and styling her hair. She reaches across to check the caller ID and, on seeing that it is him, she places it back down on her chest of drawers and continues to dry her hair.
It doesn't take Eddie long to realise that something is amiss and within half an hour of hanging up the phone, he arrives at Rachel's house. Picking up the takeaway he had stopped to buy on the way, he climbs out of the car and strides up to the front door and knocks loudly.
He watches as Rachel, appearing distorted through the brightly coloured stained glass door, hesitates before opening the door to him. She leans against the door frame and offers him a smile.
"I come baring presents! A Chinese and that chick flick thing you wanted to see."
"Oh, um. Great, thanks."
He frowns slightly, confused. "Rach, what's up?"
"Nothing. Nothing's up. I was just planning to have a quiet night tonight."
"We can have a quiet night."
"On my own Eddie."
"What? Why?"
She shrugs slightly. "I just need some time to myself."
"Ok, what's going on?"
"What do you mean?"
"Something's wrong and I'm not moving from this doorstep until you tell me."
"Eddie – "
"You can close the door on me if you like but I'll sing until you come back out." He flashes her a grin which she cannot help but return.
"I suppose you'd better come in then...Not even my neighbours deserve to be tortured by your singing."
"Humph. And I was going to try out for Matt's choir tomorrow."
Laughing, she reaches out and takes his hand; pulling him into the entrance hall.
"Ok, so are you going to tell me what's wrong?"
They are sitting side by side on the overstuffed red sofa in Rachel's lounge. The table in front of them is strewn with takeaway cartons and a half empty bottle of wine. Music plays quietly in the background and candles flicker softly in their holders on the mantelpiece. Rachel sets her plate on the table and tucks her legs underneath her. Part of her longs for Eddie's touch; to lay her head on his shoulder and doze lightly whilst he plants gentle kisses on the top of her head and yet she cannot bring herself to do this.
"It's nothing Eddie, really."
"So that's why you ignored my phone call is it?"
"Sorry about that."
"Rach, there is nothing in the world that you have to be sorry for; I just want to know that you're ok."
She sighs and massages her temple with her fingers; feeling tiredness sweep over her in waves. It has been a long day and the last thing she feels like doing is talking about her feelings. All she really wants to do is curl up in bed with her book before drifting off to sleep. And yet looking at Eddie; concern etched all over his face, she realises that she owes him an explanation. Kind, patient, loving Eddie, who, she knows in her heart, would never hurt her deliberately. She takes a deep breath.
"Why are you with me?"
Eddie, halfway through a mouthful of food, starts slightly in surprise at this question and begins to cough. He puts his plate onto the table and gulps wine to clear his throat. "What are you talking about?"
"Why are you with me? You could do so much better Eddie. You know that and so do I."
"Rach, what the hell has brought this on?"
She bites her lip; refusing to meet his eye. "Today...well, this morning to be precise. It's just...oh god, I don't know Eddie! I suppose I was a bit..."
"Ohh, please don't tell me this is all because I got slightly over excited about Jem's Porsche." He studies her for a moment as colour rises on her cheeks. "It is! Oh God Rach! You don't honestly think that-"
"Of course I don't but it made me think about things. Why wouldn't you go for someone younger and prettier who can give you everything you want? I don't want to be second best Eddie. I'd rather we end this now that be second best."
He stares at her incredulously. "So you're telling me that you want out?"
"Of course not! But I don't want you to feel that you're stuck with me. I'm damaged goods Eddie." A tear rolls down her cheek and she brushes it away angrily.
"Do you know how ridiculous you sound?"
"S'true though."
"No. What is true is that you are the strongest, bravest, most beautiful woman I have ever known. Being with you...it's made me realise that I've never really been in love before. Yes, I've thought at times that I was but loving you comes second nature; it has for as long as I've known you. And as for this morning, I'm sorry if it looked as though I was flirting with her; it really was all about the car."
She laughs shakily; wiping away stray mascara from underneath her eyes. "I'm sorry. I don't want you to think I'm jealous or possessive because I'm not. It's just – "
"Don't apologise. You're sexy when you're jealous; it makes me feel loved."
Rachel laughs and reaches out to cuff him. He catches her arm and pulls her onto his lap; planting kisses on the side of her neck. She places her finger under his chin and tips his head back before kissing him softly on the lips. "Besides," he mumbles, "i'm not really a fan of English teachers; I prefer head mistresses."
"Oh, do you now?"
"Yup. I think it's something to do with the office space. Oh, and the desk..."
She laughs and moves off his lap before picking up the dirty plates and glasses.
"Raaach, can't we wash up later?"
"No we can't." She picks up his wine glass. "You finished this?"
"Yeah." He relaxes back into the chair and rests his hands behind his head. "I should've asked, how's Grantely?"
"He's going to be ok. It was awful seeing him there though Eddie. It brought back so many memories of last year for me." She pauses slightly as she tries to push aside thoughts of the fire. "And as for Fleur...I didn't know what to say to her. I mean, what do you say to someone in that situation? I can't begin to imagine how she must be feeling."
"I can."
"What?"
"I can imagine how she's feeling. In fact, I know how she's feeling."
"What? How?"
"Because I know how helpless she'll be feeling right now. At least she knows though that he's going to be ok. I didn't even know that much."
"When?"
"When do you think?"
"Oh, Eddie, I – "
He leans forward and rests his head in his hands. "They wouldn't tell me anything because I'm not family. It nearly killed me Rach. Those first few days...you were lying there and I kept thinking that I'd wake up and find out it was all a dream and that you'd be safe and well and if I was really lucky, mine. But it wasn't a dream. You looked so peaceful as I sat there; it seemed wrong to want you to wake up but there was nothing I've ever wanted more. I made all sorts of promises with myself; if you woke up I'd make sure that you never fell asleep alone again and more than that, I'd tell you how much you meant to me. That every day without seeing you felt like a waste. But what did I do? You woke up and I bottled it up. Everything I should have said to you...I feel like I've wasted so much time Rach and I hate it."
Rachel sets the plates and glasses back onto the coffee table and sits back down next to him. She places her arm around his neck and kisses the side of his face. "We've got time Eddie. Time is something we do have, ok?" She feels him nod in reply and he lifts his head to kiss her. Deepening the kiss, she pushes him back onto the sofa and leans into him. In the hall, the front door slams and footsteps thunder up the stairs cumulating in an upstairs door being slammed shut. Rachel pulls away and averts her eyes upwards.
"Oh God, I didn't tell you did I?"
"What about?"
"Phillip. He um..." she surpresses a giggle. "I shouldn't laugh really, it's not funny."
"What's he done?"
"He er...stole some of my underwear to give to Flick Mellor."
Eddie bursts into laughter. "He did what?"
"It's not funny Eddie!"
"I'm sorry Rach but it is. Hang on." His brow furrows slightly in confusion.
"He didn't steal the black set did he? I was rather hoping that you would - "
"I bet you were!"
"A man has needs Miss Mason."
"I'm sure you do Eddie but so do I. I need you to talk to Phillip for me."
"What? No! You do it?"
"Some thing's need a man's touch."
"But-"
"I'll be ever so grateful to you Mr Lawson..." She reaches across to gently caress his jaw with her thumb.
"Will you now?"
She climbs off the sofa and stands facing him; her arms folded. She raises her eyebrow suggestively at him. "Yes. Very. Now go!"
"Ok, but if it gets awkward you're on your own Mason!"
